After two years of back-and-forth potential trade talks for Lauri Markkanen, the 2025 NBA Offseason might be the former All-Star’s year to finally leave the Utah Jazz. On Sunday afternoon, ESPN NBA Insider Shams Charania announced that the Jazz would be trading Collin Sexton and a 2030 second-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for Jusuf Nurkic.
The Jazz now have three players who are seven feet tall on their roster: Markkanen, Nurkic, and Walker Kessler. Not only that, but they have five other players who are at least 6’9″ or taller on their roster, including their No. 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, Ace Bailey.
To make matters worse, Utah traded away 6’3″ Sexton, their best point guard from last year, known for his defensive intensity. The former University of Alabama alum averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and shot 48 percent from the field, in a season where the Jazz went 17-65.
With the abundance of wings and centers on their roster, Justin Zanik, the Jazz’s General Manager, must be looking to trade one of the eight players over 6’9″. Markkanen’s trade value over the years has dropped significantly. If the Jazz plan to build around their young core group with players like Bailey, then trading Markkanen would be the best move. They also have to pay Markkanen $195 million over the next four years, so trading away his large contract would be a smart move for Zanik.
Markkanen averaged 19 points, 4.4 rebounds, (career low) 1.5 assists, shooting 42.3 percent from the floor (career low) last season. The Finland native also averaged a career high in three-pointers attempted at 8.5 per game, while shooting 34.6 percent. (2nd lowest in career)
His limited play decreases his current trade value, but there are still teams in the market to acquire the seven-footer. Here are a few potential trade partners.
San Antonio Spurs: The Jazz could offer a favorable deal centered around Keldon Johnson, Jeremy Sochan, and potentially the No. 14 overall pick, Carter Bryant.
Denver Nuggets: If the Jazz wanted to increase their shooting, they could go after Michael Porter Jr. or include a third team in the deal that currently has a plethora of draft picks and young players.
Los Angeles Lakers: The Lakers are desperate to win one more championship before Lebron James retires. Utah could take advantage of this fact and ask for Rui Hachimura and Dalton Knecht (Who was already traded last season before the trade was cancelled). Zanik could also look for a future draft pick during a season that Lebron either retires or leaves the Lakers.
Golden State Warriors: It looks like Jonathan Kuminga will become a free agent this offseason, but the Warriors did offer a $7.9 million qualifying offer to the young forward. If the Warriors resign Kuminga, they could offer a sign-and-trade deal to Utah that includes Moses Moody and several future draft picks.
Even though a Markkanen trade is over two years in the making, this Sexton deal points to the Jazz finally trading their former All-Star away this offseason. Bill Simmons weighed in on the trade, wondering how this trade could impact a future one.
If the Jazz want to fully embrace their rebuild, they would be smart to trade Markkanen now for talented young players and picks, before his trade value falls any further.
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